Overview
Guide on how to set the correct values for these two extremely important settings.
Introduction
What are FPS?:
FPS stands for Frames Per Second, which means, the amount of images we see in our screen in a second.
What are Rates?:
By rates we refer to the upload/download client-server data rate. In other words, the information players send and receive to and from the server. For example, a bullet we shoot is information we’re sending, and us being hit by a bullet is information we’re receiving.
Why are these settings that important?:
- FPS have a huge impact on the game mechanics. Correct FPS will improve our gameplay experience.
- Rates cause or prevent lag and packet loss. Correct Rates will improve our connection to the server, making our data upload/download more faithful and accurate.
Notes:
- This guide is meant to be used for multiplayer gameplay. Information about FPS could be useful for regular singleplayer gameplay but not for speedrunning.
Uncapping FPS
FPS in Half-Life are capped, but we can fix this using certain variables on console, or writing them on Half-Lifevalveuserconfig.cfg which can be opened with notepad (you can create this file if you don’t have it).
We’re gonna use:
cl_showfps 1
gl_vsync 0
fps_override 1
The first variable allows you to see your FPS on the screen (top left). You can keep them hidden (cl_showfps 0) if you already use Steam’s FPS counter.
The second variable deactivates the in-game Vertical Sync which locks FPS according to your monitor’s refresh rate (Hz). Vertical Sync should also be disabled in your graphic card settings.
The third variable deactivates the 100 FPS cap allowing you to set higher values. It basically does what developer 1 did in older versions of Half-Life.
But why did the game come with a cap?
The FPS cap avoids flickering effects on your screen. This is determined by your monitor’s refresh rate (Hz). But overriding this cap has its advantages.
Advantages on high FPS:
- Bunny Hopping speed increases, allowing you to move faster with each jump (compared to FPS capped Bunny Hopping).
- The air acceleration increases, allowing you to accelerate faster while you’re in the air.
- Aliases run faster.
- Spawning speed increases (multiplayer).
FPS Values
Now that we have already uncapped our FPS, we have to set correct values for them. We have to type them on console or write them in a .cfg file such as userconfig.cfg located in Half-Lifevalve which can be opened with notepad (you can create this file if you don’t have it).
We’re gonna use either:
fps_max 125
fps_max 250
Using 250 FPS is obviously better than 125 since the acceleration is even faster, but some servers don’t allow values that high.
Values different than these could either (depending on the value you set):
- Decrease your acceleration while Bunny Hopping.
- Cause the game to look laggy.
- Cause an annoying slow-motion when you jump (300+ FPS).
You could also use:
fps_max 60
This value does not cause the game to look laggy, but causes flickering (if gl_vsync 0) and the acceleration while jumping is not that fast, but for low end PCs or certain Bunny Hopping maps it could be useful.
Notes:
- Unstable FPS also decrease your acceleration while Bunny Hopping, so it’s preferable to have a stable value even if it’s low rather than a high and unstable one.
- Some servers are limited to 144 FPS (normally) in order to avoid advantages in matches or tournaments. This does not mean you should use 144 FPS since this value was meant for those players who have a 144hz monitor and gl_vsync 1.
Rates Values
Rates are determined by several variables. We should type them on console or write them in a .cfg file such as userconfig.cfg located in Half-Lifevalve which can be opened with notepad (you can create this file if you don’t have it).
We’re gonna use:
rate 20000
ex_interp 0.1
cl_updaterate 100
cl_cmdrate XX
Being XX = the amount of FPS you’re using +5.
For example, these values are the correct ones for fps_max 125 and fps_max 250 respectively:
cl_cmdrate 130
cl_cmdrate 255
Notes:
- The maximum value allowed by Half-Life for the variable rate is 20000, using a higher value will have no effect.
- The rate variable ex_interp comes by default with the best possible value (0.1) and should not be changed.
- The maximum value allowed by most Half-Life servers for cl_updaterate is 100, using a higher value will have no effect or you could be kicked out from the server.
- Lower values than these ones could cause lag, packet loss or innacuracy in data transfer.
Summary
Best possible settings for Half-Life are either:
For 125 FPS:
cl_cmdrate 130
cl_updaterate 100
ex_interp 0.1
fps_max 125
fps_override 1
gl_vsync 0
rate 20000
For 250 FPS:
cl_cmdrate 255
cl_updaterate 100
ex_interp 0.1
fps_max 250
fps_override 1
gl_vsync 0
rate 20000
Alias to change FPS quickly
This alias could be helpful for Bunny Hopping servers or in case you come and go from a regular to a FPS capped server. It should be written in a .cfg file such as userconfig.cfg located in Half-Lifevalve which can be opened with notepad (you can create this file if you don’t have it).
alias fps fps1
alias fps1 “fps_max 60;cl_cmdrate 65; alias fps fps2”
alias fps2 “fps_max 125;cl_cmdrate 130; alias fps fps3”
alias fps3 “fps_max 250;cl_cmdrate 255; alias fps fps1”bind g fps
It rotates between correct values for fps_max and cl_cmdrate by just pressing “g” on a server. You can change “g” to any key you want.
For more info about aliases check my guide on Steam.